The Spirit of Christmas

Christmas is a time for hope and joy.  We have great reason to rejoice in the many blessings we have been givin.  We also have the hope of the future and the hope in Christ.  It is because of him that we are here on earth experiencing life.  Sometimes our trials seem huge, but I have found that as I look around me I am deeply humbled by the quiet faith of others who have been asked to endure far more then I have to this point in my life.  They are seemingly ordinary people, who have extra-ordinary faith.  They truely emulate the light of Christ. I want to write briefly about two women I have met this semester that have helped me to brighten my outlook on life and count my blessings.
The first women is in my History class with me.  We ended up sitting by each other the first day because we are both lefties.  We took the two lefty desks in the front and started chatting.  It just kind of worked out that we always sat by each other from then on.  It has been great to get to know her, and I have learned a lot from our before and after class chats.  I never see her any other time, and I only have one class time left, and I might not see her again. She has taught me about the power of making the most of the little things in life.  I am not sure on her age, but she is a single mother (recently divorced).  She has a 20 yr old daughter, sons 16 and 14.  She loves her boys, and frequently tells me stories about them.  They live in a little apartment together.  Her daughter lives in Texas where she ran away with her boyfriend.  This is so hard on my friend.  She has a little grandson, but the boyfriend doesn't allow the daughter to see her family so my friend has only seen her grandson once.  She was just going to get an admissions packet to send to her daughter with her Christmas package to try to get her to come to school and improve her life. She works and goes to school, and then takes care of her boys.  At night she sometimes has time for homework. She is an example to me. I hope and pray that her family has a Merry Christmas!

The other woman I don't know as well, but her story has stayed with me.  Her husband left their family a year ago, and left her to tend and provide for six young kids.  She had been married young and had never finished school. She was able to recieve a scholarship from the CAPSA foundation(which is for abused women) and is now studying here at Utah State to be a nurse.  She took the time to ask me all about my education, my family, and where I was from one night as we volunteered at the Hope Festival.  I was instantly impressed with her geniuine interest in my life.  She emulated the light of Christ.  That was about two months ago and I just saw her on campus! It was great to chat for just a minute. Her kids are all sick this week, just as she is getting ready to take finals.  Again I felt that pang in my heart as she smiled and said that everything would work out. I hope and pray that she and her family will have a Merry Christmas!


I know there are so many out there who are asked to endure hard trials, and sometimes it is unbearable, but it seems that you are the strong ones.  Thank you for being who you are, and being such examples to me! Merry Christmas to everyone!